Angel Reese & Mom Share Heartwarming Exchange After Chicago Star Drops Season-Best Numbers Against LA Sparks

Some people have it harder than others. Ever since Angel Reese set foot in the W, it feels like someone’s ready to tear her down every time she shows up. She receives scrutiny that goes far beyond just basketball. After fans tore apart her New Year’s Eve outfit, Reese was forced to delete her Instagram account entirely. But the hate didn’t stop there. At one point, it even spilled onto the court. Slurs were allegedly hurled her way during a game. The league had to launch an investigation, and even her opponents stepped up to defend her. “There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” said Caitlin Clark.

But tonight, Angel Reese flipped the script, silencing all the hate with her performance. From now on, it’s only “MEBOUNDS, SHEBOUNDS, WEBOUNDS.” In the win over the Sparks, she led both teams in all three major categories – 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. It marked her 50th career appearance, and she made sure it was a grand one, becoming the first WNBA player to record 15+ rebounds in four consecutive games. Who could accuse her of stat-padding after this one? So, finally, the love is pouring in. And it starts with someone who’s always been in her corner: her mom.

What a week it’s been for the Reese family, the kind of rare stretch where the wins just keep coming. Both Angel and her brother are miles from home, chasing greatness under the bright lights of L.A. Naturally, Mama Reese is feeling both the  pride and the distance. She expressed it in front of the world on her X account. “Both kids are in LA right now. Wish I was there to give a hug of congratulations to 1 & a hug of encouragement to the other. #proudmom,” she wrote. After all, she knows what it’s like to chase dreams far from home. Back in her day, Angel Webb Reese made her mark at UMBC where she earned a spot in the Athletics Hall of Fame and had her No. 10 jersey retired.

And Angel Reese sees that, feels that, and honors all of it it. She responded to her mom’s tweet with all the love: “Love you mom! This for YOU! 🥺.” They have a real special bond right there. Many players have an external inspiration. However for Reese it was her mom “I used to go to my mom’s games when I was younger. She used to play in a little league, and I used to always go watch her games on Sundays. That was something that was always inspiring to me,” Reese explained to Just Women’s Sports. “She’s always been independent and she molded that into me. I am who I am because of her.”

Moreover, we know that Julian Reese dabbled in nearly every sport growing up. It was the two Angels in his life (his sister and his mother) who were there to guide him all the way to the doorstep of the Lakers. So if there’s a victory lap to be had, Mama Reese, take it, you’ve earned every stride.

Has Angel Reese Entered the MVP Chat?

Absolutely, and she has all the receipts stacked in her barbie purse. After dropping 24 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists against the Sparks, Angel Reese is not just a budding talent anymore, she is officially in the conversations amongst league’s bests. Also, Reese now holds the record for the most rebounds in a player’s first 50 games with 647, blowing past Tina Charles’ previous record of 565.

And speaking of Charles, Reese is also climbing an elite list dominated by MVPs. After her previous game against the Valkyries, she is fourth all-time for the most 15-point, 15-rebound games in a player’s first two seasons (5 games), trailing only Charles (10), Yolanda Griffith (8), and Jonquel Jones (6)…..all of whom went on to win the MVP award.

What’s even crazier is that Angel Reese still has 28 games left to add to her total. Her consistency has been next-level lately. She has managed to string together three straight 15-point, 15-rebound performances. That has led her to join an exclusive group that includes Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, and A’ja Wilson, all MVP winners again. And if past MVPs are any indication, the trajectory she’s on doesn’t just point to stardom. It points straight to MVP honors.